3 men arrested for 21 area burglaries

LIMERICK — Montgomery County detectives and local police departments have arrested three men they say are responsible for 21 home burglaries in the last seven months that allegedly netted more than $100,000 worth of jewelry and other items.

The burglaries mainly took place in Montgomery County but two were in Berks County. Charges detail alleged break-ins at homes in Limerick, New Hanover, Lower Providence, Lower Frederick, Salford, Upper Salford and Robeson townships.

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Becker and Benner allegedly committed one burglary together in Lower Frederick, where they stole an assortment of jewelry valued at $5,000, court documents state.

Although most of the burglaries happened during the day, the men did not stick to specific time frames, according to reports.

The suspects then allegedly sold the stolen items, according to court documents.

“There are pawn shop records that we are reviewing,” said Limerick Police Detective Matt Daywalt.

During the burglaries, Benner would enter the home and Samsel would stay in the car outside, according to court papers. But if someone was in the home, Benner would say he was looking for a person who did not live at the house, then leave.

“Most people committing these types of crimes are not interested in confronting someone,” said Daywalt. “That is the way most people operate. They do not want to create problems for themselves.”

Burglars like Benner and Samsel will come up with a reason to exit quickly if they are confronted, Daywalt said.

The investigation that led to the arrests began on Jan. 3, when Limerick Police were dispatched to 150 Limerick Center Road where the homeowner said he had an encounter with a white male who had entered the home, according to court documents. The homeowner said the suspect had a tattoo on the front of his neck, and the description given matched that of Benner.

The homeowner also identified a blue Hyundai parked in his driveway at the time of the incident. The owner of the car told police that Samsel was driving it because he meant to purchase it, court documents state.

The Hyundai was then seen in front of Benner’s lot at the Ridgeway Terrace Trailer Park in Limerick, police said.

Police conducted surveillance on the car and Upper Providence police witnessed Benner backing into a driveway on Kurtz Road in New Hanover on Jan., 17. After Benner left, police checked the house and saw that the rear garage door had been forced open, court documents said.

New Hanover police got in touch with the homeowner and were able to confirm that items were taken from the house.

That night, Limerick Police stopped Benner and an unknown female on Ridge Pike near Airport Road and the two were taken into custody, police said.

In an interview with police, Benner admitted to burglarizing the home on Kurtz Road, court papers state. The items stolen from the Kurtz Road burglary were recovered and identified by the homeowner.

Benner and Samsel were arraigned Thursday morning, according to court documents. Benner’s bail is set at $50,000 cash and Samsel’s bail is set at $50,000 unsecured, the documents said.

Their preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. before District Judge Cathleen Rebar.